pretty and sometimes strange old books and the world they live in

Missed Connections: Love, Lost and Found

From Missed Connections: Love, Lost and Found by Sophie Blackall

This happened to a friend once: He was on a train, and made eye contact with a pretty girl waiting on the platform. Love at first sight, he said. But his train whizzed by without stopping, leaving her behind. He never saw her again. And he always wondered, “what if?”

This scene replays itself every day around the world. It’s so common that many cities have “missed connections” personal ads inviting people to post messages to someone they’d like to see again. They say things like: “Really cute girl with a great smile who helped me get a bar of jasmine scented soap and gave me a free sample of figs and leaves. Would like to see ya again.”

The paintings are based on real, anonymous messages posted online by lovelorn strangers:

Says Blackall: “Every day hundreds of strangers reach out to other strangers on the strength of a glance, a smile or a blue hat. Their messages have the lifespan of a butterfly. I’m trying to pin a few of them down.”

I don’t believe in taking any chances when it comes to love. Whether it’s new love, old love, unrequited love, platonic love. Say what you feel. You may never get the chance again.